[Application of a growth model in animal nutrition. 4. Body composition]

The growth development of the body weight and the amounts of protein, water and minerals can be described according to the same function as the live weight of the animal. No generally acceptable equation could be found for the amount of fat. There is a statistically highly significant relation between protein expenditure (Ep) and the growth rate of the liver weight (w): Ep = beta w theta. The protein requirement can be calculated in dependence on the development of the live weight from the growth factors for the live weight and the factors for protein expenditure.